[SOLVED] DIY Build vs Pre-Built vs Laptop (newbie) ?

[rren]

I'm very novice when it comes to computers. My build desktop is too old over 10 yrs old I think. I do architural design using Chief Architect and Revit, graphic design and home videos. I'm trying to stay within $1,000 plus or minus (the better). I'm leaning toward laptop because it's very mobile and I don't need a UPS when elecgricity go out where I live. But then I also like the desktop because it's more powerful at the same price point I think. If I build can I use my old PSU Corsair CX750M, my 12gig rams, Gigabyte X58A UD3R rev 2.0 mobo? Maybe I should upgrade to a better graphic card?

current not working build desktop:
Gigabyte X58A UD3R rev 2.0
Zotac gtx 470
Corsair CX750M power unit
12 gig rams
LG monitor DVI connection.

the program that I use Chief Architect is coming out with a new version and it recommends a the following;

• 32 GB of RAM
• 512 GB SSD
• PC
  • Desktops:
    • Intel i7 / AMD Ryzen 5000
    • 8 GB NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070
  • Laptops:
    • Minimum 15" screen
    • Intel i7
    • 8 GB NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070

but then many people are saying that's an over kill spec recommendation. I think I agree.

is building cheaper? I went to the computer store and saw some very affordable desktop with high specs. how much saving am if I build my own vs buying a pre built desktop? How much saving of price and spec am I getting and losing if I go with self build vs pre built vs laptop? thanks in advance!

 

[Why_Me]

I'm very novice when it comes to computers. My build desktop is too old over 10 yrs old I think. I do architural design using Chief Architect and Revit, graphic design and home videos. I'm trying to stay within $1,000 plus or minus (the better). I'm leaning toward laptop because it's very mobile and I don't need a UPS when elecgricity go out where I live. But then I also like the desktop because it's more powerful at the same price point I think. If I build can I use my old PSU Corsair CX750M, my 12gig rams, Gigabyte X58A UD3R rev 2.0 mobo? Maybe I should upgrade to a better graphic card?

current not working build desktop:
Gigabyte X58A UD3R rev 2.0
Zotac gtx 470
Corsair CX750M power unit
12 gig rams
LG monitor DVI connection.

the program that I use Chief Architect is coming out with a new version and it recommends a the following;

• 32 GB of RAM
• 512 GB SSD
• PC
  • Desktops:
    • Intel i7 / AMD Ryzen 5000
    • 8 GB NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070
  • Laptops:
    • Minimum 15" screen
    • Intel i7
    • 8 GB NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070

but then many people are saying that's an over kill spec recommendation. I think I agree.

is building cheaper? I went to the computer store and saw some very affordable desktop with high specs. how much saving am if I build my own vs buying a pre built desktop? How much saving of price and spec am I getting and losing if I go with self build vs pre built vs laptop? thanks in advance!

If its a 3070 you're going after then a prebuilt is the way to go seeing how that seems to be the only way to get one of those cards these days.

 

[rren]

If its a 3070 you're going after then a prebuilt is the way to go seeing how that seems to be the only way to get one of those cards these days.

here's a laptop Asus G17 G713QR-ES96 for $1,700

• 3.3 GHz Ryzen 9 5900HX 8-Core
• 16GB DDR4 | 1TB M.2 PCIe SSD
• 17.3" 1920 x 1080 300 Hz IPS Display
• NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 (8GB GDDR6)

if I build my own would it be cheaper with the same spec?

 

[Shektron]

here's a laptop Asus G17 G713QR-ES96 for $1,700

• 3.3 GHz Ryzen 9 5900HX 8-Core
• 16GB DDR4 | 1TB M.2 PCIe SSD
• 17.3" 1920 x 1080 300 Hz IPS Display
• NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 (8GB GDDR6)

if I build my own would it be cheaper with the same spec?

Hard to say because right now availability on parts is very, very limited, plus the CPU is a laptop CPU so can't directly compare it to a desktop CPU, same thing with GPU most probably(some high-end laptops put desktop-grade GPU's in their laptop, but most of the time it's the laptop variant of the same GPU, which is less powerful).

If you want the best value for your money, desktop is the way to go, but you'll have to wait for prices to normalize, otherwise you'll be looking to overspend on certain parts, hence ruining the value advantage of desktops over laptops/pre-builts.

 

[Why_Me]

here's a laptop Asus G17 G713QR-ES96 for $1,700

• 3.3 GHz Ryzen 9 5900HX 8-Core
• 16GB DDR4 | 1TB M.2 PCIe SSD
• 17.3" 1920 x 1080 300 Hz IPS Display
• NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 (8GB GDDR6)

if I build my own would it be cheaper with the same spec?

Build your own desktop would be the way to go if those RTX 30XX series cards were available but they aren't.

 

[rren]

Hard to say because right now availability on parts is very, very limited, plus the CPU is a laptop CPU so can't directly compare it to a desktop CPU, same thing with GPU most probably(some high-end laptops put desktop-grade GPU's in their laptop, but most of the time it's the laptop variant of the same GPU, which is less powerful).

If you want the best value for your money, desktop is the way to go, but you'll have to wait for prices to normalize, otherwise you'll be looking to overspend on certain parts, hence ruining the value advantage of desktops over laptops/pre-builts.

sorry I'm asking you too much questions. if the specs are the same # how much performance percentage desktop cpu vs laptop cpu, desktop gpu vs laptop gpu?

 

[Shektron]

sorry I'm asking you too much questions. if the specs are the same # how much performance percentage desktop cpu vs laptop cpu, desktop gpu vs laptop gpu?

It can still vary because of how the specific laptop implements the cooling, wattage, etc, but if the specs are the same, and the CPU's aren't limited by cooling, then there won't be much of a difference in CPU. Again, for GPU, Nvidia has decided to confuse consumers as much as possible, releasing multiple variants of a single GPU, all with the exact same name, but different performance levels. Comparisons between desktop and laptop GPU's would be pointless until you know the exact laptop you want to get, and which variant of the GPU that model uses.

 

[rren]

It can still vary because of how the specific laptop implements the cooling, wattage, etc, but if the specs are the same, and the CPU's aren't limited by cooling, then there won't be much of a difference in CPU. Again, for GPU, Nvidia has decided to confuse consumers as much as possible, releasing multiple variants of a single GPU, all with the exact same name, but different performance levels. Comparisons between desktop and laptop GPU's would be pointless until you know the exact laptop you want to get, and which variant of the GPU that model uses.

is this one here on Bhphotovideo https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/prod...713qr_es96_17_3_republic_of_gamers.html/specs
if I build a desktop version with same spec # will I be saving a significant of $$$? thanks this will be my last question.

 

[Shektron]

is this one here on Bhphotovideo https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/prod...713qr_es96_17_3_republic_of_gamers.html/specs
if I build a desktop version with same spec # will I be saving a significant of $$$? thanks this will be my last question.

Here's an equivalent desktop build, more expensive because of the ridiculous inflation on the GPU:

PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 5800X 3.8 GHz 8-Core Processor ($529.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: MSI MAG B550M BAZOOKA Micro ATX AM4 Motherboard ($129.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: Team T-FORCE VULCAN Z 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3200 CL16 Memory ($74.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Blue SN550 1 TB M.2-2280 NVME Solid State Drive ($99.99 @ Walmart)
Video Card: Asus GeForce RTX 3070 8 GB DUAL OC Video Card ($969.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Fractal Design Focus G ATX Mid Tower Case ($55.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Antec Earthwatts Gold Pro 650 W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-modular ATX Power Supply ($89.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $1950.93
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2021-02-08 07:43 EST-0500

It is equivalent in performance, and the other parts are just placeholders for what works with those parts, not too cheap and not too fancy. The RTX 3070 has a $500 MSRP, so you're currently paying almost double for that card than what it's supposed to be at. A custom-build PC will always be cheaper than a laptop for the same performance, unless there's a global pandemic affecting supply and scalpers inflating demand.

 

[rren]

Here's an equivalent desktop build, more expensive because of the ridiculous inflation on the GPU:

PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 5800X 3.8 GHz 8-Core Processor ($529.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: MSI MAG B550M BAZOOKA Micro ATX AM4 Motherboard ($129.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: Team T-FORCE VULCAN Z 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3200 CL16 Memory ($74.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Blue SN550 1 TB M.2-2280 NVME Solid State Drive ($99.99 @ Walmart)
Video Card: Asus GeForce RTX 3070 8 GB DUAL OC Video Card ($969.99 @ Amazon)
Case: Fractal Design Focus G ATX Mid Tower Case ($55.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Antec Earthwatts Gold Pro 650 W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-modular ATX Power Supply ($89.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $1950.93
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2021-02-08 07:43 EST-0500

It is equivalent in performance, and the other parts are just placeholders for what works with those parts, not too cheap and not too fancy. The RTX 3070 has a $500 MSRP, so you're currently paying almost double for that card than what it's supposed to be at. A custom-build PC will always be cheaper than a laptop for the same performance, unless there's a global pandemic affecting supply and scalpers inflating demand.

Sorry I just have to ask you again. So the laptop has 3.3 GHz AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX 8-Core so laptop is slower? Ryzen 9 3.3 ghz vs Ryzen 7 3.8ghz. And graphics cards even when they're the same # the laptop is always going to be slower? Laptop gets hot faster and cpu and gpu will lower itself to compensate for heat? Desktop runs way cooler? Total laptop $1,799 vs $1950.93 desktop build =$151.93 saving. Real saving about $651.93 without inflation. Laptop comes with free monitor . For $651.93 i can buy 2 really good monitors i should wait a little right?

 

[Shektron]

Sorry I just have to ask you again. So the laptop has 3.3 GHz AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX 8-Core so laptop is slower? Ryzen 9 3.3 ghz vs Ryzen 7 3.8ghz. And graphics cards even when they're the same # the laptop is always going to be slower? Laptop gets hot faster and cpu and gpu will lower itself to compensate for heat? Desktop runs way cooler? Total laptop $1,799 vs $1950.93 desktop build =$151.93 saving. Real saving about $651.93 without inflation. Laptop comes with free monitor . For $651.93 i can buy 2 really good monitors i should wait a little right?

The CPU is slower because laptop CPU's have lower TDP, that is they have to work with less power since laptop can handle much less heat than desktops can. The CPU clock speed is hence slower on the laptop.

I think I mentioned this previously, but laptop and desktop GPU's with the same name are NOT the same - the laptop version will have lower TDP, fewer cores, and slower clock speed, hence there is a performance difference between an RTX 3070 desktop and an RTX 3070 laptop.

Also, thanks to Nvidia's extremely consumer-friendly naming(sarcasm), there are two versions of the RTX 3070 laptop - with the exact same name - but with different levels of performance because their TDP is different.

The performance difference in laptops is not just because laptops heat up faster and so the components slow down - it's also because the components themselves are designed to be less powerful.

If you can wait for the GPU prices to come back to normal, that would be ideal for getting the best value for your money. If you cannot wait, getting the laptop would be the way to go because buying the RTX 3070 for $1000 is not a smart thing to do.

P.S : you messed up the math there a little bit. If you buy a laptop right now, you'll be saving $151 because the desktop is more expensive. But if you wait for the RTX 3070 to come to normal prices, you'll pay $500 less for the PC, so your saving will be $500 - $151 = $349. Still enough money for one good, one decent monitor.

 

[rren]

The CPU is slower because laptop CPU's have lower TDP, that is they have to work with less power since laptop can handle much less heat than desktops can. The CPU clock speed is hence slower on the laptop.

I think I mentioned this previously, but laptop and desktop GPU's with the same name are NOT the same - the laptop version will have lower TDP, fewer cores, and slower clock speed, hence there is a performance difference between an RTX 3070 desktop and an RTX 3070 laptop.

Also, thanks to Nvidia's extremely consumer-friendly naming(sarcasm), there are two versions of the RTX 3070 laptop - with the exact same name - but with different levels of performance because their TDP is different.

The performance difference in laptops is not just because laptops heat up faster and so the components slow down - it's also because the components themselves are designed to be less powerful.

If you can wait for the GPU prices to come back to normal, that would be ideal for getting the best value for your money. If you cannot wait, getting the laptop would be the way to go because buying the RTX 3070 for $1000 is not a smart thing to do.

P.S : you messed up the math there a little bit. If you buy a laptop right now, you'll be saving $151 because the desktop is more expensive. But if you wait for the RTX 3070 to come to normal prices, you'll pay $500 less for the PC, so your saving will be $500 - $151 = $349. Still enough money for one good, one decent monitor.

Thankyou sir! build desktop all the way! Now I can walk in to computer shops with confidence